Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-22
.I,tN,HN

The project for the improvement of this
river was adopted in ISIS. This contem-
plated the formation OF q clear channel l22
miles long. with q minimum with of 80
teet, and a least depth Of Is inches during
i've months of the year, by the removal
of suags, rock, and other Instructions.
This river was practically closed before
work was commenced, except during rises
Of considerable height.
No work has been done upon this river
during the past year.
The s., 600 appropriated by act OF July
>, ISL, was retained, awaiting the action
OF Congress. Authority had been requested
to eXpend this sum in the purchase and
removal Of Rodgers Dam, the principal oh
structiOn interfering with the navigation.
This dam was constructed under the laws
of the State OF Virginia, prior to the tOrma-
ton OF the State of West Virginia.
The act of August ;, lSS6, made avail
able the ST. u appropriated by the pre-
viously mentioned act. With this amount
the improvement of the river by the Tt
moval Of Instructions from the channel
will be continued.
1t is proposed to complete the improve
ment witlpfhe amount asked for.
Total amount appropriated for this work
to ate.-................. ............'...'. ,.'Sl-'''" w
Amount teStimatedl required tor compile
ton OF existing prniect....................: S"" ~
AmOuntthatCa an b. pruhtahly expended
in fiscal year ending june ID, l>NN .... 50" M
Another item is for improving
ELK RIVER.
Continuing improvement, three thousand
dollars.
No commercial statistics for year ending
June 80. ISS6, are obtaiuable.
The Elk is one of the chief tributaries OF
the Great Kanawha. Its course is tor
tuouS, Us is shown by the fact that the dis
lance from it's mouth to RraNtUn Court
House Is 81 miles in a straight line, but 100
miles by the windings of the stream. The
average lOw-water width is about poo feet,
with narrOws at the rapids Otabout 100
feet in width, and occasional portions OF
about 800 feet in width. The pools vary in
depth from 5 I o 10 feet, and are separated
by rapid shoals of cobble stones and
gravel, on which there has been, at low
seasons, a depth Of but a few inches OF
water. The average fall per mile IN the
river, from BraxtOn Court House down, IS
about % feet, but is not uniformly diStrlb-
uted, being greatest about 4 feet per mile
in the central section, and less (about >
feet) in the upper and lower sections.
Freshets of small height ore of frequent
occurrence. but rapidly pass off. The an
nual rise In the spring Is about I'D or Il
feet. An extraordinary rise Is sometimes
had Of % or 80 feet, but the duration Is not
great. .
The approved project of improvement
has been the removal Ofrocks, snagS, over
hanging trees, &C., and the cutting OF mar
row sluices through the rapids and shoals,
The principal interests to be served are
those of numbering and rafting, bat much
country produce is also carried down
stream in small boats, which return with
merchandise, &c. The cost OF the I'M
movement was originally estimated As
500, 900, to make it complete OF ITS KIND.
The country through which this stream
flows is rich in minerals and we'll Tilted for
agriculture and grazing. The improve
ment already done has been OF great bene-
tit to that as yet comparatively undeNeiop-
ed section.
Total amount appropriated for this work q,
to
Amount IN at can be probably expended -
in fiscal year ending June 30 lSS--.. "WV W
The next item is for improving q.
LITTLE KANAwHA
river. Continuing improvement, seven
thousand five hundred dollars. :
The river is a tributary Of the Ohio and
empties into into it at Parkersburg, W.
Va. The city of Parkersburg has apopu-
Iation of 6,5S2 inhabitants, according to
the census of 1880.
The commercial statistics of the Little
Kanawha river for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1886, show that the exports were
1912, $685. {, and imports, general mer-
chandise 1914, 10000. Aggregate $685..
1868.
The present project for the improve
ment of the river adopted in 1876 and
-o1;6a1 IN 1S2nl c~nntamolatRS the CON-